Those ‘oh so discreet’ suites hotels don’t want you to know about
Whether you’re a VIP with cash to splash, a member of an exclusive club, or have ended up a little worse for wear in the bar, there are extra-special rooms the unexpected guest can check into
The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon – a low-slung, 62-suite escape that lurks half-hidden in the rugged landscape just outside Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik – has only been open for three months, and it is already one of the buzziest luxury spots in Europe. Perched on the edge of the geothermally heated pool for which it is named, it features floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views across the lava rock, plus a spa that offers in-lagoon massages. Guests get one especially attractive perk: after-hours access to the spectacular natural site, whose waters are packed with crowds during peak times.
But within the retreat lies one exclusive space that few visitors will ever know exists. Spread across two levels and 2,100 square feet, the Blue Lagoon suite is almost triple the size of any other. It has a private balcony overlooking the lava landscape, a kitchen and dining room, and a king-size bedroom with walk-in closet. Best of all, it has its own private spa, complete with a steam bath, sauna, fireplace, and a private bathing area within the lagoon.
The catch? The lavish suite costs US$10,500 per night, with a two-night minimum – and it is not listed on the hotel’s website. No photographs, no description, nothing at all.
The Secret World of Unlisted Hotel Suites
The Blue Lagoon suite is like a cross between an unlisted phone number and a house seat at a theatre: You cannot find it unless you already know it is there, and booking is by invitation only. At high-end hotels around the world, these unlisted rooms are a subtle staple, with raisons d’être as varied as the rooms themselves.
According to Mar Masson, the hotel’s director of marketing, the Blue Lagoon suite is intended as the ultimate hideaway. For those who want to slip in unnoticed, a private entrance and nearby helipad allow discreet, private connections from Keflavik International Airport.
“No one ever needs to know you’re there,” he says. “It’s not visible to other guests, and there is nothing that indicates it is there.”
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